Job Description
Based in Cooma, NSW on the Snowy 2.0 project
FIFO roster
Job Summary
The Head of
Project Quality Management
is accountable for establishing, governing, and continuously improving the
Quality Management System (QMS) for the full
electrical and mechanical (E&M)
scope of a major hydropower project, cover
design, manufacturing, supply chain, logistics, installation, and commissioning
, including turbines, generators, hydraulic steel structures, BoPe, and BoPm. The role acts as an independent assurance function within the project, with authority to escape, intervene, and halt activities where quality, compliance, or safety-critical risks are identified. This includes ensuring compliance with contractual obligations, regulatory requirements, ISO 9001 standards, Voith Hydro design & Manufacturing standards and Voith Hydro & company policies, while driving risk mitigation, continuous improvement, and right-first-time delivery across all project phases.
The role provides strategic and operational leadership across all project locations Cooma, Goulburn, and Lobs Hole Site and entire supply chain for the project embedding a strong quality culture and integrating quality assurance into engineering, procurement, logistics, installation, and commissioning. The Head of QA/QC leads, mentors, and manages the project QA/QC team, acting as the senior authority on all quality matters and serving as the primary interface with clients, alliance partners, auditors, and regulatory bodies.
Direct Responsibilities
Quality Strategy & Governance
Define, implement, and govern the Project Quality Management Plan (QMP) including regular review in alignment with contract requirements, ISO 9001, applicable standards, and company policies.
Establish project-wide quality objectives, KPIs, assurance frameworks, audit programs, and management reviews.
Act as the independent assurance function within the project
Provide strategic quality advice to the Deputy Project Director and Project Leadership Team, supporting informed decision-making on quality, risk, and compliance matters
Define and operate a risk-based Quality Assurance framework, ensuring effective separation between quality governance and execution.
Maintain independence of the QA/QC function while supporting project delivery objectives
Lead management reviews of the Quality Management System and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
Project Execution: End-to-End Quality Leadership
Oversee the end-to-end QA/QC function across Cooma, Goulburn, and Lobs Hole Site.
Monitor quality performance of subcontractors, suppliers, and partners, ensuring alignment with Voith and project standards.
Ensure full traceability, completeness, and archiving of Data Books and quality records for project milestones and final acceptance.
Lead the QA/QC function across engineering, procurement, manufacturing, logistics, site installation, and commissioning.
Ensure Inspection & Test Plans (ITPs), procedures, hold points, and acceptance criteria are defined, approved, and executed in accordance with contractual obligations.
Govern Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs), Site Acceptance Tests (SATs), installation inspections, commissioning quality processes, and handover documentation.
Own the management of Non-Conformances (NCRs), corrective and preventive actions through root cause analysis, ensuring timely closure and systemic risk mitigation.
Exercise stop-work and hold-point authority for non-compliant works, suppliers, or activities posing unacceptable quality or compliance risks.
Work closely with Engineering to ensure designs meet contractual, regulatory, and constructability requirements.
Partner with Procurement and Package Management to embed supplier quality requirements into contracts and manufacturing processes.
Oversee quality assurance of logistics, warehousing, preservation, handling, and material release at the Goulburn Warehouse and Lobs Hole Site.
Provide technical QA/QC leadership to installation and commissioning teams to resolve site quality issues efficiently.
Collaborate with HSE, Construction, and Commissioning to ensure integrated compliance, risk management, and safe execution.
Define and implement supplier quality strategies in coordination with the package managers, including risk classification, surveillance levels, audit frequency, and expediting requirements for critical E&M suppliers.
In coordination with the DY project director ensure early quality involvement in supplier selection, manufacturing readiness reviews, and production ramp-up phases.
Supply Chain & Manufacturing Quality
Define and implementrisk-based supplier quality strategiescovering OEMs, workshops, and subcontractors.
Embed quality requirements into procurement and package strategies, including surveillance levels, audits, expediting, and manufacturing readiness reviews.
Lead supplier audits and performance assessments, ensuring early detection and resolution of quality risks.
Oversee quality assurance of logistics, warehousing, preservation, handling, and material releaseacross all project locations.
Site Quality & Commissioning Support
Provide senior QA/QC leadership to site teams during
erection, installation, testing, and commissioning .
Ensure consistent application of site quality systems, inspection regimes, welding and NDT/NDE compliance, calibration, and documentation control.
Support rapid and effective resolution of site quality issues while protecting compliance and long-term asset performance.
Audits, Compliance & Client Engagement
Plan and lead
internal, external, client, and regulatory audits across all project sites and supply chain
Act as the primary quality interface with the
client, alliance partners, certifying authorities, and regulators .
Prepare and present quality dashboards, performance reports, and compliance updates to project leadership and stakeholders.
Support contractual compliance, claims, and dispute avoidance through robust quality records and technical substantiation.
Support alliance governance through transparent quality reporting, joint audits, and collaborative resolution of systemic quality issues with employer and contractor.
Leadership of Site Quality Management
Provide functional leadership and direction to the Site Quality Managers and QA/QC teams.
Ensure site quality systems are consistently implemented, resourced, and aligned with the project schedule and budget.
Guide site teams on inspection planning, ITP execution, welding compliance, NDT/NDE activities, calibration, and documentation control.
Ensure that quality risks, NCRs, and technical changes are escalated, assessed, and resolved efficiently.
Promote a strong quality culture where compliance, accountability, and continuous improvement are embedded in daily operations.
Risk & Opportunity Management
Identify and assess quality risks across all project phases and interfaces.
Develop and implement mitigation and contingency plans for critical quality risks.
Drive data-driven continuous improvement initiatives aimed at reducing Cost of “Poor” Quality (COPQ), rework, delays, and supplier escapes, using trend analysis, lessons learned, and systemic root cause reviews.
Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing, multi-disciplinary QA/QC organisation across site and supply chain environments.
Build strong quality capability through structured training, coaching, and performance management.
Promote a culture of quality, accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement, aligned with company values and project objectives
Build a high-performance, empowered QA/QC team capable of operating under complex stakeholder and schedule pressures typical of megaproject environments.
Authority & Decision Rights
Approve or reject quality plans, ITPs, and manufacturing readiness
Stop work where quality or compliance risks are unacceptable
Escalate directly to Project Director / Alliance leadership
Independent access to client and auditors on quality matters
Your Profile
15+ years’ experience in Quality Management within large-scale infrastructure, hydropower, energy, oil & gas, or heavy industrial projects.
Proven experience leading QA/QC functions on complex, multi-site construction projects.
Expert knowledge of ISO 9001, project quality systems, inspection regimes, and regulatory compliance.
Strong background in welding standards, NDT/NDE processes, and manufacturing and site inspection practices (IWE/CSWIP/AWS/ASNT highly regarded).
Demonstrated experience with FAT/SAT, supplier audits, installation quality, and commissioning documentation.
Experience supporting claims, variations, and dispute processes through quality records and technical evidence.
Pragmatic, solution-oriented approach to quality in construction environments with schedule and budget pressures.
Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence across all levels.
Extensive experience working on major projects in Australia; knowledge of Alliance or collaborative contracting models highly regarded.
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